Agenda item

Gillingham South Ward

Change of use from office to six x 1 bed flats, including three small single storey infill extensions and a first floor extension and roof extension incorporating a loft conversion, plus the installation of two first floor windows and one flat entrance door to facilitate - Re-submission of MC/23/0376.

Discussion:

The Senior Planner outlined the application in detail for the change of use from offices to six x 1-bed flats, including three small single storey infill extensions and a first floor extension and roof extension incorporating a loft conversion, plus the installation of two first floor windows and one flat entrance door to facilitate.

The Senior Planner clarified that a conversion to 16 flats in total had already been approved under a prior application and this planning application would add a further two flats in the roof space.

With the agreement of the Committee, Councillor Louwella Prenter addressed the Committee as Ward Councillor and raised the following concerns:

• There would be a lack of rubbish storage.  The local streets already had an increased amount of fly tipping. 
• The Transport Statement had been submitted, stated there would be 102 parking spaces within a 2 minute walk.  The 102 spaces referenced had not been identified and it seemed “Dr on Call” spaces had been included.  There were 2 disabled parking spaces in the original application, this application had none.
• Although the development was in close proximity to transport links and the inclusion of a cycle store was welcomed, it was stated that buses did not run late into the evening.
• She understood there was a housing shortage, however, she considered 18 flats with up to 36 people would not make much of a difference to that shortage.

The Highways Consultant clarified that while the survey was conducted correctly, the phrasing in the Transport Statement could have been interpreted as misleading but confirmed the methodology was robust.

The Senior Planner explained that the parking area was not included in this application site area and would be part of a future planning application. 

The Committee discussed the planning application, noting the comments outlined by the Senior Planner and the points raised by the Ward Councillor and were concerned with the possible overdevelopment of the site, lack of refuse facilities and parking.  The Senior Planner reminded Members that the planning application was only for 2 additional flats compared to what had previously been granted prior approval (12 flats) and full planning permission (4 units). 

The Senior Planner confirmed the wording for condition 5, regarding parking, would be amended so that residents would be unable to apply for on-street parking permits for the area.  

Condition 9 would be amended to include samples of external materials to be submitted and approved to the Local Planning Authority.

Decision:      

Approved with conditions 1 to 9 as set out in the report for the reasons stated in the report.  With amendments to condition 5 and 9.

Amend Condition 5:

Prior to the first occupation of any of the flats hereby approved a Travel/Parking Management Plan shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The Parking Management Plan shall encompass a range of measures to encourage the use of sustainable and non-car related transport modes, details of how residents and their visitors will be discouraged from parking on local streets and confirmation that residents will not apply for on-street parking permits.The Travel/Parking Management Plan shall be implemented in accordance with the approved details prior to the first occupation of the flats and shall thereafter be retained in operation.

Reason: To encourage sustainable travel and discourage car parking on local streets with regard to Policies BNE2 and T1 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

Replace Condition 9:

No external alterations shall take place until details and samples of all materials to be used externally have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The development shall be implemented in accordance with the approved details.

Reason:  To ensure that the appearance of the development is satisfactory and without prejudice to conditions of visual amenity in the locality, in accordance with Policy BNE1 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.